A commentary upon the whole book of Judges Preached first and delivered in sundry…A commentary vpon the vvhole booke of Iudges Preached first and deliuered in sundrie…

But this doctrine hath been diversly occasioned before. One thing I will add to answer such as might say, These Shechemites had no other shift now, but to shroud themselves under this, or some such like defence, who therefore can blame them if they sought shelter against a tyrant where they could get it? I answer. To seek succour against an usurper is lawful, so the means be according: but this usurper was set up by themselves, neither did he any greater violence to them, then they to him; and therefore for this, I say, they might thank themselves, for that they brought wilful bondage upon themselves. Indeed, as the case stood with them, either they must fence their city and people (whom they had brought into the snare being led by them) against Abimelech, or else yield and perish. But what a cursed thing is this, for the men either to use vile persons to be their patrons in their desperate quarrels, or else to bring themselves to that point, that they might be come upon by one that sought and waited to destroy them? Therefore let not men defend their sins by this plea, that they are driven to a straight, and have no remedy, but to fall upon the smaller inconvenience, that they may avoid the greater: For who brought this wretched choice upon them? God alloweth his children to walk at large under his government, and keeps them from such straits as these. Who then cooped them into so narrow a room? Surely their own sin: when men have liberty, they are weary of it, till they be straitened and driven to their shifts. Therefore this defence is as bad as the crime it self: for if men have fallen into extremity by one sin, they must not redeem and avoid it by another, nor do evil that a supposed good may come of it. What then? Humble themselves for the first sin, and cast themselves upon Gods hand for the issue and danger, & so avoid the second, as Davids example excellently showeth. ¹For who are they, that having sinned, they should scorn to bear the shame of it? And especially if the extremity they avoid, be but only a punishment bodily: (as commonly that is the strait which men seek to shun) and they sin doubly by provoking God through indirect means, and all to save themselves from momentany trouble & danger.

But this doctrine hath been diuersly occasioned before. One thing I will adde to answere such as might say, These Shechemites had no other shift now, but to shroud themselues vnder this, or some such like defence, who therefore can blame them if they sought shelter against a tyrant where they could get it? I answer. To seeke succour against an vsurper is lawfull, so the meanes be according: but this vsurper was set vp by themselues, neither did he any greater violence to them, then they to him; and therefore for this, I say, they might thanke themselues, for that they brought wilfull bondage vpon themselues. Indeed, as the case stood with them, either they must fence their citie and people (whom they had brought into the snare being led by them) against Abimelech, or else yeeld and perish. But what a cursed thing is this, for the men either to vse vile persons to be their patrons in their desperate quarrels, or else to bring themselues to that point, that they might be come vpon by one that sought and waited to destroy them? Therefore let not men defend their sins by this plea, that they are driuen to a straight, and haue no remedy, but to fall vpon the smaller inconuenience, that they may auoid the greater: For who brought this wretched choice vpon them? God alloweth his children to walke at large vnder his gouernment, and keepes them from such streights as these. Who then cooped them into so narrow a roome? Surely their owne sinne: when men haue liberty, they are wearie of it, till they bestreightned and driuen to their shifts. Therefore this defence is as bad as the crime it selfe: for if men haue fallen into extremitie by one sinne, they must not redeeme and auoid it by another, nor doe euill that a supposed good may come of it. What then? Humble themselues for the first sinne, and cast themselues vpon Gods hand for the istue and danger, & so auoid the second, as Dauids example excellently sheweth.